Amtrak’s Coast Starlight service out of Seattle fully restored
Aug 23, 2021, 10:38 AM | Updated: 11:28 am
General view of atmosphere during Amtrak National Train Day at King Street Station on May 10, 2014, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Amtrak)
(Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Amtrak)
Amtrak has announced that the Coast Starlight service, which operates between Los Angeles and Seattle, is fully operational as of Aug. 23.
Explosive California wildfires could burn into December
“Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight links the greatest cities on the West Coast,” reads an Amtrak press release on the service resumption. “The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is unsurpassed. The dramatic peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests, fertile valleys, and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline provide a stunning backdrop for the journey.”
The service was temporarily suspended after wildfires in Northern California damaged sections of the Union Pacific Railroad near the Shasta-Trinity National Rainforest.
The Lava Fire responsible for the damage to the railroad was 85% contained as of Aug. 22, according to the Bay Area’s Mercury News. Nine national forests in California have been closed because of the fire threat.
EXPLAINER: Why it takes months to subdue some wildfires
The updated Coast Starlight schedule can be found here. Fare is reduced by 20% if booked 14 days in advance. Children ages 12 and under receive a 50% fare discount, and seniors 65 and over are eligible for a 10% discount.
